Combined envelope and display medium



War. 25; 1924. 1,516,563

L. B; CAMPBELL CQMBINED ENVELOPE AND DISPLAY MEDIUM Filec} Aug. 23, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 was . L. B; CAMPBELL COMBINED ENVELOPE AND DISPLAY mnnm Filed Aug; 23, 1922' 2 snemkshem 2 Patented Nov, 25, 1924.

s res PATENT oFFIC COMBINED ENVELOPE Ann Dismay MEDIUM.

Application filed August 23, 1922. serial No. 533,864.

fafall whom it concer /1 H Be it known that I, LAwnnNcn B'RYA N CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Combined Envelope and Display Medium, of which the following is a specification. g

This invention relates to mailing envelopes, and the improvements are directed more particularly to an envelope for mailing photographs.

011s of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an envelope for the purpose stated which, after it has served its purpose in the transmission of the photograph through the mails, may be employed as a frame for the photograph and, in serving this further useful purpose, will obviate the necessity of mounting the photograph in a separately purchased frame.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the article that one element thereof will be adapted to serve as an address hearing medium in the transmission of the article through the mails and, after it has served this purpose, may be rearranged or redisposed in such a manner as to thereafter serve as a reinforcing or stiffening medium to maintain the photograph in flat form and thus prevent warping or distortion of the same, incidentally stifl'ening the portion of the envelope which constitutes the frame for the photograph.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide for the arrangement of the address bearing medium, for the transmission of the envelope through the mails, in such a manner as to completely cover and eii'ectually protect the photograph and thus prevent injury thereto or soiling of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article for the purpose stated adapted, when prepared for mailing, to effectually enclose the photograph and provide against its loss and at the same time permit of the article being opened for inspection of its contents by post oflice authorities and likewise permitting of its being readily opened, with out damage thereto, and its parts conveniently rearranged to adapt it for display.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a substantially transparent protective investment for the envelope designed to protect the more or less ornamented surface of the envelope which is to constitute a f-rame for the photograph so that the finish of this surface will not be marred in trans mission through the mails. The invention also contemplates, in this connection, so forming and arranging the investment for the envelope that the removal of theaddress bearing medium will result in simultaneous and automatic removal of the investment thus greatly simplifying the operation of preparing the photograph and its frame for display.

Another object of the invention is to provide the address bearing medium with means whereby it may be most conveniently withdrawn from the envelope, this means constituting also a means whereby the envelope, when employed as a frame for the photograph, may be suspended upon a wall.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a plan view looking at the face of an envelope constructed in accordance with the invention and prepared for transmission through the mails;

Figure 2 is a similar view looking at the back of the envelope;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view in detail taken substantially on the line '3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view with the transparent investment remove-d;

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the address bearing medium and the investment are to be removed from the frame envelope and the photograph therein;

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the article suspended upon a wall.

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating means by which the article may be supported in the manner of an easel.

The article embodying the invention comprises primarily an envelope which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and within which "the photograph, indicated in general by the numeral 2, is to be arranged and retained. The envelope 1 may be formed throughout of one kind of material or its several component parts or elements may be of different materials. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the envelope comprises a front wall 3, and a back walla which walls are united along three sides of the margin of the envelope, the envelope being left open at its fourth side to provide a mouth 5. The walls 3 and 4 constitute the body of the envelope 1' and these walls may be of paper of any desired quality and any desired degree of stiffness, and in order to adapt the envelope to serve as a frame for the photograph 2 contained therein, after the envelope has served its purpose in the transmission of the photograph through the mails, a sheet 6 of cardboard, metal, celluloid or in fact any material found suitable for the purpose, is secured to the outer surface of the wall 3 of the envelope and covers substantially the entire area thereof, except that where the sheet 6 is of a more or less expensive material and it is desired to prevent bending or orumpling of its corners during transmission through the mails, it ma be found expedient to so proportion the body of the envelope and the said sheet as to permit a portion of the envelope toproject beyond the margins of the said sheet 6 as indicated by the numeral 7. The wall 3 of the envelope 1 is formed with an opening 8 through which the photograph 2 may be exposed to view, and the facing or frame sheet 6 is similarly formed with an opening 9 in substantial registration with the opening 8 for alike purpose. Of course, the facing or frame sheet 6 may be ornamented or embellished in any desired manner so that it will possess the qualities necessary to adapt it to serve as a frame for the photograph.

The address bearing medium is indicated in general by the numeral 10 and the same comprises a backing sheet 11 preferably of strawboard or some other relatively heavy and stiff paper or other material upon which the name and address of the addressee may be correctly written or which may have secured upon one of its sides, by adhesive or otherwise, a label 12 for this purpose. In preparing the article for mailing, the address bearingmedium 10 is inserted into the. envelope 1 between the front wall 3 of the envelope and the face of the photograph 2 disposed thereinand as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings. With the address bearing medium thus arranged, the address written thereon will be displayed through the openings 8 and 9 in the envelope and frame sheet respectively, and at the same time the face of the photograph will be covered and thus protected. When the article has been delivered and it is de sired to display the photograph, the address bearing medium 10 may be readily withdrawn from the envelope and then reinserted, this time in position between the backwall 4 of the envelope and the back medium comprising the sheet 10, and with the medium in the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cord is led over the edge of the said sheet 11 and over the edge of the rear wall 4: of the envelope and is wound one or more times about the fastener 13 and beneath the prongs thereof, thus being anchored for the purpose stated although being adapted to be unwound and disengaged from the fastener for the purpose of authorized inspection of the contents of the envelope. At this point it may be noted that when the photograph is to be displayed within the frame afforded by the envelope, the cord 14: may beimade to serve the purpose of a suspension means as shown in Fig. 6 of thedrawings. In thus making use of the cord, the address bearing medium 10 comprising the sheet 11 is withdrawn from the envelope in the manner heretofore stated and reinserted in the position shown in Fig. 4 and then the cord is passed about the fastener 13 in the previously described manner, sufficient slack being left to provide a loop as shown in Fig. 6 for engagement over a tack or nail, for the purpose stated.

If desired the envelope may be provided with an attached easel member15 adapting the article to be supported in a more or less upright position upon a flat surface, and this easel member preferably comprises a triangular sheet 16 of cardboard or straw board, or the like, which is secured preferably by adhesive to the outer face of the back wall 4t of the envelope with the base of the triangle substantially registering with the lower closed end or bottom of the said envelope; -An incision 17 is formed in the triangular sheet 16 and extends substantially parallel to one side or margin of the triangular sheet. By forming this incision there is provided a prop member 18 produced by folding out the material between the incision 17 and the vertical median line of the sheet 16. I

As the facing or frame sheet 6 will be in practice of a more or less expensive material, at least so far as compared with the material of which the body of the envelope is made, it will of course be desirable to protect the same in transit so that the ornamented or embellished surface will not become scratched, torn, or soiled, and so that lit (ill

it will reach the addressee in condition to permit of use of the article as a permanent frame for the photograph, and with this end in view the invention contemplates the provision in connection with the article as thus far described, of an investment, or supplemental envelope, which is indicated in general by the numeral 19. This investmentis preferably of transparent or semi-transparent material such, for example as an oiled or paraiiincd paper and comprises a front wall and a back wall 21,.the invest ment being closed at one end as at 22 and open at its other end to provide a mouth 28. The investment is of dimensions adapting it to snugly receive and enclose the envelope 1, and to permit of cancellation of the postage stamp applied to the label 12 of the address bearing medium, it may be provided with an opening or window 24: in its front wall 20. However, if. desired, the stamp might be applied to the investment 19 and in this use its front wall would not be pro vided with the opening 24-. By reference to the several figures of the drawings it will be observed that the envelope 1 is inserted into the investment 19 in such manner that the mouth of the envelope 1 will be received within the closed bottom or end 22 of the investment. Theclosed end of the envelope being located within the mouth or open end 23 of said investment. in order to suitably expose the fastener 13 and cord 1%, the closed end 22 and rear wall 21 of the investment are preferably cut away as at 25 and as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. In order that the closed end of the envelope may be readily grasped, the walls of the investment 19 at the mouth or open end of the investment are formed with notches 26. Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawings it will be evident that the article, when dclivered, may be most conveniently opened and its component parts rearranged to adapt the envelope to serve as a permanent frame for the photograph, this being accomplished by grasping the portion of the envelope 1 which is exposed through the notches 26, in one hand, and pulling upon the cord 14: with the other hand after it has been disengaged from the fastener 13. In this manner, the address bearing medium comprising the sheet 11 will be withdrawn from the envelope 1, and as it is withdrawn, the engagement of its end to which the cord is attached, within the closed end or bottom of the investment 19, will result in the said investment being likewise slipped off from the envelope. Thus the parts which it is desired to remove will be withdrawn simultaneously leaving the envelope 1 with the photograph exposed through the openings 8 and 9. After thus manipulating the parts, the address bearing medium 10 may be readily withdrawn from the investment 19 and then reinserted in the envelope 1 in the manner shown in Fi l and to serve as a reinforcing and stiffening backing for the photograph and likewise for the envelope which now serves the purpose of a frame for the photograph either in the manner shown in Fig. 6 or in the manner shown in Fig. 7.

If desired the label 12 may bear a suitable legend or instructions as indicated by the numeral 27 and reading for example Instructions how to open, on reverse side. Upon the back 4 of the envelope 1 there may be printed instructions as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and indicated by the numeral 28, directing one how to manipulate the article in rearranging it in the manner previously explained.

While the article has been described above as designed especially for the transmission and exhibition of photographs, it will be understood that the principles of the invention may find embodiment in calendars, the display of lithographs, chromos, or in fact any surface which it may be desired to display regardless of its character. Also it will be understood that if desired advertising matter may be printed upon the investment 19.

The envelope is described above as provided with an opening 8 as also the frame sheet 6 but it will be evident that, as it is common practice, either or both of these openings might be closed, in a sense, by a. sheet of transparent material, or the wall of the envelope might have a portion of its area treated to render it transparent. Therefore, the invention contemplates, in its broadest aspect, providing the envelope with a window through which the element 2, whether it be a photograph or other surface to be displayed, may be viewed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed asnew is:

1. In an article of the class described, an envelope open at one side and having a window in one wall, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said window, and a sheet separate from the envelope and removably fitted within the envelope through said open side and disposable be tween the said element and the said wall of the envelope to close the window ant also disposable between the element and the opposite wall of the envelope to constitute a backing for the element.

2. In an article of the class described, an envelope open at one side and having a window in one wall, an element within said envelope to be displayed through said window, and an address bearing medium comprising a relatively stiff sheet separate from the envelope and fitted within the envelope and removable through said open side and disposable between the said element and the said wall of the envelope to close the windew and display the address inscribed upon it, the said sheet being also disposable between the element and the opposite wall of the envelope to constitute a backing for the said element.

3. In an article of the class described, an envelope open at one side and having a window in one wall, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said window, a sheet separate from the envelope and removably fitted within the envelope through said open side and disposable selectively between the said element and the said wall of the envelope and between the said element and the other wall "of the envelope, and coacting elements upon the envelope and the said sheet for retaining the sheet within the envelope.

4. In an article of the class described, an envelope having a window in one wall, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said window, a sheet removably fitted within the envelope selectively between the said element and the said wall of the envelope and between the said element and the other wall of the envelope, and coactingelcments upon the envelope and the said sheet for retaining the sheet within the envelope in either disposition of the sheet, the element upon the sheet constituting also a means which may be grasped for the purpose of withdrawing the sheet from the envelope.

5. In an article of the class described, an envelope having a window in one wall, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said window, a sheet removably fitted within the envelope and disposable between said element and said wall of. the envelope to close the window and protect said element and also disposable between the element and the opposite wall of the envelope to constitute a backing for the element, an anchoring element upon the en velope, and a flexible element connected with the said sheet and separably engageable with the anchoring element.

6. In an article of the class described, an

envelope body having a window in one wall, a facing frame sheet secured to the outer face of said wall of the envelope body and having a window in substantial registration with the first-mentioned window whereby the envelope will constitute a display frame, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said windows, and a combined address bearing and backing sheet separate from the envelope and insertible into the envelope selectively in position between the said wall of the envelope and the said element and between the other wall of the envelope and said element.

7. In an article of the class described, in combination, an envelope open atone side and having one wall embellished and procombination, an envelope having one wall embellished and provided with a window to constitute a frame, a photograph or the like arranged within the envelope, a combined address bearing and backing sheet separate from the envelope and selectively insertible into the envelope between the said photograph or the like and the said wall of the envelope or between the said photograph or the like and the opposite wall of the envelope, and coacting elements upon the said sheet and the last-mentioned wall of the envelope for retaining the sheet within the envelope.

' 9. In an article of the class described, an envelope having a window in one wall, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said window, a sheet removably fitted within the envelope and disposable between the said element and the said wall of the envelope to close the window, a substantially transparent investment enclosing the envelope, and means associated with the said sheet for facilitating its withdrawal from the envelope, the sheet in its withdrawal being so arranged as to coact with the investment to in like manner withdraw the same from the envelope.

lOrIn an article of the class described, an envelope having a mouth at one margin and a window in one wall, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said window, a sheet removably fitted within the envelope and disposable between said element and said wall of the envelope to close the window, the sheet being removable through the mouth of the envelope, means connected with the sheet to facilitate its withdrawal from the envelope, and an investment fitting the envelope and having a. closed margin receiving the mouth of the envelope.

11. In an article of the class described, an envelope having a mouth at one margin and window in one wall, an element within the envelope to be displayed through said window, a .sheet removably fitted within the envelope and disposable between said element and said wall of the envelope to close the window, the sheet being removable through the mouth of the envelope, means connected with the sheet to facilitate its withdrawal from the envelope, and an investment fitting the envelope and having a closed margin receiving the mouth of the envelope, the said investment being cut away to accommodate the said means which is associated with the sheet.

5 12. In an article of the class described, an envelope having a mouth at one margin and provided With a Window in one Wall, a sheet fitted Within the envelope and removable through said mouth, a substantially trans- 10 parent investment fitting the envelope and having a closed margin receiving and confronting the mouth of the envelope and closing the said mouth, the said investment at its margin being cut away, an anchoring element upon the envelope Within the cut away portion of the investment and a flexible element connected With the said sheet and engageable with the said anchoring element.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

LAWRENCE BRYAN CAMPBELL. 

